Indigenous Impact Weekly, Celebrating Leaders and Changemakers
Jahna Cedar is a Nyiyaparli and Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with ancestral ties to the Bardi Gija people of the Kimberleys. She grew up between Marble Bar and Port Hedland and has been a passionate advocate for Aboriginal people and in particular, Indigenous women and youth. A dedicated advocate for equal rights, social justice and reconciliation, Jahna has built a substantial repertoire that puts her in high-demand.
Interview conducted by Harrison French, Communications specialist
Jahna Cedar runs her own consulting firm called Jahna Cedar Consulting, which specialises in consultancy and advisory services, coaching and mentoring, training delivery and facilitation. Jahna was the youngest woman to be elected to the West Australian International Women's Day Hall of Fame in 2012. She received the medal of the Order of Australia in 2020 for service to the Aboriginal community in Western Australia and in 2022 was the WA winner of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women's Leadership. She is the Co-Chair of First Nations X and was a founding member of the Blak Angel Investors in 2025. She is a council member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA), Deputy Chair of Lowitja Institute, and a Director of North Metropolitan Health Services and the Western Australian Aboriginal Leadership Institute, and a Board member of Binar Futures.
Jahna grew up amongst the red earth and turquoise waters of the Pilbara, a region that holds some of the most breathtaking and exquisite natural landscapes in Australia. Her upbringing instilled in her the importance of respecting cultural protocols and giving back to the community led by her grandmother.
“I got to see my grandmother, showing the gift of service and volunteering. She's in her 80s, and still volunteers in so many different capacities and from that, leadership begins. It is the ability to be able to give back to the community that fills my cup. The spirit of servant leadership, which is integral to my identity and hopefully something that I'm building within my children. Growing up in the bush, I’ve learnt the importance of respecting cultural protocols, seeking guidance and approvals where required, and remaining humble. I'm blessed now, to have a trusted group of Elders that I seek a lot of direction from.”